Chapter 4: Don't you ever smile at me
Author's POV
Eva was at her wit's end, frustrated with the series of events unfolding before her. Garvin's actions were the final straw—this was the third time he had targeted her, and she was exhausted.
She regretted ever being friendly to him, ever smiling at him, or even saying hello. Now, he had taken her bag, adding insult to injury. She felt like she was being pulled into another mess, another trouble, all because of Garvin's relentless bullying.
Eva's patience was worn thin, and she couldn't take it anymore. She was fed up with Garvin's constant harassment and felt like she was walking on eggshells around him, never knowing when he would strike next.
Eva's eyes blazed with anger as she stared at Garvin, her mind racing with the fact that this was the third time he had targeted her today. She couldn't believe that someone who looked so charming and cute could enjoy her suffering so much. She felt like he was feeding off her pain, reveling in her misery. How could someone so handsome and popular be a bully? Eva's face twisted in anger as she glared at him, her breathing shallow. Garvin noticed her gaze and met it with a smirk, his eyes glinting with amusement.
"Why are you looking at me, shithead?" he asked, his voice dripping with condescension.
"I'm asking you... Shithead," he said, referring to her as "shithead"—a word that made Eva's blood boil. She felt her chest rise and fall with each ragged breath, her anger simmering just below the surface.
"I won't take that insult from you!" Eva said, standing up for herself. "I'm a human being, not a shithead!"
Garvin scoffed, his face reddening with anger. "You're not enough, Eva. Why are you looking at me like that? Your eyes aren't even fine. Stop looking at me before I have a nightmare!"
Eva couldn't help but laugh. "You're already a nightmare yourself!"
Garvin's face twisted in rage, and he slammed his fist on the table, making everyone jump.
"You got the nerve?" He said angrily. His friend tried to calm him down, "Hey, Garvin, don't let what she said get to you."
But Garvin was beyond reason. "Are you out of your mind? Do you know who I am?" he spat at Eva.
She stood her ground, looking him straight in the eye. "You're nothing but dust. You came from dust, and you'll return to dust."
Garvin's anger boiled over, and he took a step closer to Eva, his eyes blazing with fury.
Eva's eyes narrowed as she turned to Garvin, her voice firm with accusation. "Enough is enough. You took my bag, didn't you?" she said, her gaze piercing.
Garvin's smirk faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. "What are you talking about?" he asked.
But Eva was not convinced. She had seen the fearful gaze of the girl sitting near her, and she knew that Garvin was responsible. "Don't lie to me," she said, her voice rising. "I know you took it. You're always bullying and harassing me, and now you've stolen my bag?"
Garvin's expression turned cold, his eyes glinting with malice. "What are you trying to say? That I'm a thief? You called me a thief!" he exclaimed, his voice rising in indignation.
But Eva stood her ground, her eyes flashing with anger. "I know you took my bag, Garvin. Don't deny it. You're always bullying and harassing me, and now you've stolen from me?"
Garvin sneered, his face reddening with rage. "Your cheap little bag? I wouldn't touch it even if I wanted to. You're just trying to accuse me because you're desperate."
Eva's voice trembled with emotion. "I saw the way she looked at you when I asked her about my bag. She was scared, Garvin. She was scared of you. You're the one who took my bag because you're a bully, and she's too afraid to say anything."
Garvin's anger boiled over, his face twisted in fury. "How dare you!" he spat, taking a step closer to Eva. "I know what you're doing."
Garvin's smile grew wider as he taunted Eva. "I know what you're really doing, Eva. You think you're smart, but you're just trying to get my attention. You're doing all of this just to make me talk to you."
Eva's face flushed with anger and embarrassment. "Whatever, what are you talking about?" she stammered, trying to deny his accusations.
But Garvin just laughed. "Don't be dumb, Eva. I know exactly what you're trying to do. You're trying to seek my attention, and you're willing to do whatever it takes to get it. You're an attention-seeker, and it's pathetic. You're just a weak, pathetic little girl who can't even stand up for herself."
Eva's eyes welled up with tears as Garvin's insults cut deep. "Shut up, Garvin," she whispered, trying to hold back her emotions.
But Garvin just kept going. "What's wrong, Eva? Can't handle the truth? You're nothing but a waste of space, a useless little brat who can't even get anyone to like her. You're a joke, Eva. A pathetic, sad little joke."
"That's a big fat lie!" Eva protested, trying to defend herself. "I'm new here, a newcomer. Why would I try to get your attention when I don't even know you? I don't even know anybody in this school!"
But Garvin just chuckled. "Come on, don't play dumb, Eva. You came to me earlier today, remember? You smiled at me and said hello. That was you flirting with me. That was you trying to get my attention." Garvin said as everyone exclaim and laugh.
Eva's face grew hot with embarrassment. She knew that Garvin had misinterpreted everything. She had simply been trying to be friendly, not flirtatious.
"You're accusing me of stealing your bag just to get my attention, aren't you? You're trying to get me to notice you."
"Gavin, that's not what happened. I'm not trying to get your attention; in fact, I'm warning you to leave me alone. You're the one who's been bullying me all day, and now you're trying to deny taking my bag? I know you're the one who took it because you're the only one who's had a problem with me all day. You've been harassing me nonstop."
Then, Garvin looked at her, tapped her forehead angrily, and said, "You're looking for trouble." But she shot back, "You're the one who's causing trouble."
He accused her of seeking his attention, telling her to leave him alone. "Don't smile at me, don't stare at me, and don't try to talk to me again," he warned. And with a hint of defiance, he added, "I didn't steal your bag."
Eva said, "You think this is a joke? Don't play dumb, Garvin." Garvin retorted with disdain, "Don't call me stupid. I'm not the kind of person you want to mess with and get away with it. Trust me, you won't get away with it."
Eva flashed with anger and wanted to talk back to Garvin, but before she could say anything, a voice intervened, "What's going on here?"